in Marriage, Parenting, Health, and Faith

Breastfeeding

Yesterday’s excitement was tainted by my almost 9 month old going on a nursing strike. In addition, she woke up long before the sun screaming to be fed, something I thought she had finally outgrown. I nursed my oldest until she was 14 months old and hoped to do the same for my baby. I am a little worried that they change in my diet could be a factor, but I am still eating plenty of calories, just better calories so I can’t logically see how that would be a problem. Part of me wonders if I am selfish for putting so much time and energy into my diet and exercise lately and that it is somehow affecting nursing.

Truthfully, I am unsure if the problem is on my end or hers. All day I have been pumping and chugging water and extra calories and trying to coax a distracted and uninterested baby into nursing for more than a few seconds. There is a small part of me that is tempted to just give in and give up nursing, to call nine months enough and allow myself to be done. It has been three years since the last time I wasn’t pregnant or nursing and that freedom is very alluring. But a bigger part of me has cried the few times I have had to supplement over the last few days.

When I sat down to write this post, I only planned to write about my meal plan, but then my nursing struggle just slipped out. It feels good to let it out. If anyone out there has any experience or advice on the matter, I am all ears.

Now that that is out of the way, here are all the dinners I have planned for this week:

Dinners:

Monday – Fend for yourself (I ended up having a breakfast salad and everyone else had grilled cheese)